Heidi Rediker To Be Named US State Department's First-ever Chief Economist

2/22/2012 7:34 AM ET

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has announced that Heidi Rediker will be named as the first-ever chief economist at the State Department.

"She has a deep knowledge of financial and other markets and extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, and I look forward to her contributions to our team," Clinton said while delivering keynote address at the Global Business Conference in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.

Clinton also announced the creation of a new, unified under secretariat for economic growth, energy and environment under Bob Hormats' leadership.

Clinton said she had made "'Jobs Diplomacy' a priority mission at the State Department, with a clear goal: Just as our companies are ready to out-work, out-innovate, and out-compete their rivals, so we intend to be the most effective diplomatic champions for prosperity and growth."

"We're changing the way we do business to better advance and support the way you do business, Clinton told the first-ever Global Business Conference organized by the State Department. "We need to see the world like you do, crisscrossed not just by national borders but by global supply chains," she added.

Clinton said the State Department was "improving training for diplomats in economics, finance, and markets, and working more closely with colleagues across our government to leverage the best possible skills and resources."

She said all the senior American diplomats were directed to conduct business outreach and advocacy when they travel overseas.

The two-day conference has brought together senior officials from U.S. business support organizations from over 100 countries; U.S private sector executives focused on international business; and senior U.S. government leaders from the White House, the Departments of State, Commerce, Treasury and Energy, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

Building on President Obama's agenda to accelerate America's economic renewal, the conference will highlight how the U.S. government can promote U.S. businesses abroad, increase U.S. exports, attract new investment to the United States, and create American jobs.